Molded plastic skates



Aug. 24, 1965 R. J. GOODMAN MOLDED PLASTIC SKATES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1964 05592 cl. E 000444,

IN VEN TOR.

Aug. 24, 1965 R. J. GOODMAN 3,202,435

MOLDED PLASTIC SKATES Filed July 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 10 A 10 14 #7163 52 3 12 m-mllmlm f if f 5. a2 I I a;

6 .5'7 .[mniw f flaesQr cl Evan/14AM, 34 I N V EN TOR.

1965 R. J. GOODMAN 3,202,435

MOLDED PLASTIC SKATES Filed July 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 j/ [in //VV/l 7'0 United States Patent 3,262,435 lidt'lLL lll) PLASTIC SKATES Robert 5. Goodman, Los Angeles, Calif., assiguor to Scion-Ail Corporation, Los Angeies, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 21, 1964, rlex. No. 337,263 26 Claims. (Cl. 280-1126) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application SN. 248,919, filed Jan. 2, 1963, now abandoned, for Roller Skate of Molded Plastic Construction, and a continuation-in-part of my earlier application SN. 178,- 9-5 filed Mar. 12, 1962, now abandoned for Plastic Roller Skates.

This invention relates to skates, and while principally ap licable to roller skates, is likewise applicable to ice hates and other foot gear embodying clamp mechanism or securely fastening the same to the foot or shoe of a wearer. The primary object of this invention is to provide a skate or the like of molded construction, such that it can be embodied in molded synthetic resin plastic material, fabricated in any member of selected colors and shades (cg. pastel colors) and making it possible to utihas various selected combinations of colors in a single skate.

A further and important object is to provide such a skate having an excess of ruggedness, toughness, strength and resistance to breakage, bending, and other damage.

Still another object is to provide such a skate embodyin a combination of spring-loaded clamping of opposed toe and heel jaws to the foot or shoe of a wearer, together with adjustability of the skate to a range of shoe or foot sizes, such that the spring-loading may be relatively uniform for each selected shoe size adjustment within the Related objects are to provide a skate which in addition to tr e features outlined above, is of such easy manipulation that it can be attached to the foot by a young child without assistance from an adult, and which nevertheless will cling to the foot securely, resisting any tendency for accidental dislodgernent from the foot as the result of contact with obstructions or other loads that may be im posed on the skate while it is being used.

An important object of the invention is to provide a skate having the combination of shoe-sizing adjustment and snrin -lo aded clamping referred to above, and which, in a' 'on, necessitates a shoe-sizing operation only once (when it is first applied to any particular shoe) and which thereafter will remain locked at the size adjustment that has been selected, while the spring-loaded clamping operation is available for each application of the skate to the shoe and each removal from the shoe.

A still further object is to provide such a skate wherein the shoe-sizing adjustment means is manipulated with extreme ease, requiring only pressure upon a latch plunger to release the same for extension or contraction of the skate to a different size adjustment.

A further object is to provide a roller skate having front wheels placed further forwardly than in a normal roller skate, thereby providing greater support for the skaters feet and better balance on the skates. This is made possible by avoiding any projections downwardly from the toe platform of the skate which might otherwise intersuch forward positioning of the wheels.

0:" r obje ts and advantages will become apparent in the ensuing specification and appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a roller skate embed the invention, with portions broken away and shown in section;

PEG. 2 is a plan view of the same, with portions broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a detailed fragmentary cross-sectional view taken as indicated by the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed fragmentary cross sectional view taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

P16, 5 is an inverted plan view of the skate, with a portion broken away;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same taken as indicated by the line e' 3 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front end View of the heel section of the skate, partially in cross-section;

FIG. 8 is a front end view of the toe section of the skate;

PEG. 9 is a side elevational view of a roller skate embodying a modified form of the invention, with parts broken away:

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the same with a portion of one of the rollers broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the same, looking forwardly as indicated by line lll11 of FIG. 9;

Fl. 12 is a cross sectional view of the same looking rearwardly as indicated by line ll2 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the same parts broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 14 is a sectional View of the skate of PEG. 9 in the vertical plane of its major axis;

FIG. 15 is a heel end view of the same; and

FIG. 16 is toe end view of the same.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and in particular to FIGS. l8, I have shown therein, as an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, a junior size childs roller skate of all plastic construc tion (with the exception of loading springs, axles, and wheel bearing washers). In a commercial embodiment of the disclosed skate, the wheels are fabricated from a colored plastic material of one pastel shade, the axle hub caps and skate body and clamping jaws are fabricated of a colored plastic material of a contrasting pastel hue, and an extremely favorable eye appeal is thereby obtained. This is one of the advantages which is made possible by the molded plastic construction of the skate. Preferably the invention utilizes, as the material, a therneoplastic polystyrene molding compound of the nitrostyrene group obtainable from Monsanto Chemical C0. under the trademark Lustron, having good ch mical resistance, low moisture absorption and good dimensional stability, and tensile strength in the range of 5,(l()9-9,669 pound/ square inch.

In general, the skate compri es a platform mounted upon roller mounts A and B at its forward and rear ends respectively. The platform structure comprises, in general, an extensible bridge C embodying respective toe and heel platform sections; a pair of shoecoupling elements consisting of a toe unit D and a heel unit E, for clamping onto a shoe or foot F; and a size-locking latch G. The latch unit G is utilized to lock the bridge C at any selected position of shoe-sizing adjustment.

One of the platform sections is mounted on a corresponding section of bridge C for longitud' l sliding movements to accommodate opening and ClOSlug of the jaws to receive and release a wearers shoe: This slidable platform section is spring-loaded toward a retracted position of minimum spacing from the opposed platform section, and from this normally retracted position it can be moved away from the other platform section by pressure applied to it by an extremity of the wearers shoe inserted therein. The sprin loaded platform section may be either the toe platform section or the heel platform section.

In the skate shown herein, the toe unit D has an integral platform section which is spring-loaded in relation to its respective section of the bridge C. V

Briefly reviewing the operation of the skate at this point, when the skate is first applied to ashoe of a V particular size, it is adjusted to that size by finger presgrapsing the heel of the skate and pulling it rearwardly, f1

and simultaneously pushing the toe forwardly to extend the skate sufficiently to receive the shoe. For removing the skate it is only necessary to grasp the heel section,

to pull it' rearwardly while exerting forward pressure.

against the toe section, and thereby to open the skate suificiently to slip the shoe out of the skate.

. In detail, my improved skate embodies'the following features of construction:

Wheel supports A and B are each of molded plastic material'comprising cylindrical rims 10 integral with solid disc webs 11 which in turn are integral with hubs 12 having cylindrical bearing bores. Axles 13 of steel or other suitable bearing metal are fitted within the bearing bores of hubs 12 with just sufiicient clearance forfree rotation of the wheels. The plastic material of the wheels is of such different molecular structure than the steel of the axles that friction is reduced to a minimum, there is no tendency of seizure or galling between the surfaces of wheel hubs and axle, and wear is thereby minimized. V

Secured on the ends of axles 13, with a press-fit, are hub caps 14 of molded plastic material against which the outer ends of hubs 12 have rotatable end-bearing engagement. The inner ends of hubs 12 bear against metallic bearing washers 15 (FIG. 3) which are pressed onto the axle 13, maintaining its ends in spaced relation knurling the ends of axles 13 at 16, there being an interference fit between the diamond pointed surfaces of the .knurling and the inner wall of the molded recess in each hub cap 14.

' wardly projecting integral spring pilot 44.

walls and parallel vertical side walls formed as downward continuations of the side walls 22 of the box beam section. The upwardly diverging fore and aft walls of axle mount '33 are joined by a segmental-cylindrical bottom web 34 in which the axle 13 is snugly nested, there being an interference fit between. the lower surface of the axle and web 34, the axle being pressed into place, and thus a frictional grip'of the web 34 against the axle is provided to hald the axle against turning. Washers 15 are likewise pressed onto the axle 13 to maintain them fixed in properly spaced positions which in turn provide fixed spacing between the washers 15 and the "hub caps 14'with ample clearance between these parts and the endso'f wheel hub 12 so that the latter may rotate freely without end drag.

The ends of web 34 are notched inwardly at 35 (FIG. 7

5) .to facilitate forcing the axle through the ends of mount 33 without causing the ends to be marred by breaking small chunks out of these ends.

In the arched bottom web 24 of the box beam section is a longitudinal slot 36 having enlarged circular end openings 37 and segmental circularintermediate notches 38 in opposed pairs, equally spaced from the end openings 37 andfrom one another, thus providing a series (four shown) of latch'apertures 37 and 38. 7

Heel bridge section 21 comprises a solid rectangular beam member 40 of I-beam section (FIG. 7) embodying a central web 41 which is enlarged approximately midway between the ends of the beam (FIG. 4-) to provide an integral cylindrical tubular vertical boss 42 having its upper end closed 'by a head 43 and an open lower end receiving the latch element G. Head 43 has a down- Flat horizontal flanges'45 provide the top portion of the I-beam section and the bottom includes an upwardly arched web .46 having flat horizontal side flanges 47 which are in slidable engagement with the lateral bottom portions 23 of the box beam of toe bridge section 20.

The arching of bottom web 46 conforms to the arched contour of box beambottom 24. The arching of bottom web 24 strengthens it to resist downward pressure by the bottom member'46 of bridge section 21. Also, it pro- Bridge C comprises respectively a toe section 20 and a heel section 21 which embody respective beam portions of rectangular section. The toe beam section is of box beam (regular tube) structure, having flat parallel vertical .side walls 22, a bottom wall which'comprises flat horizontal lateral portions 23, an aupwardly arched, segmental-cylindrical central web portion 24,. and a flat horizontal top web 25. The toe bridge section further includes a pair of lateral slide flanges 26 projected laterally from the side walls 22 in a common plane with the central top web 25. In the forward end of the toe section is a rectangular opening 27 (FIG, 2) which accommodates the loading spring for toe coupling unit D. The forward end of opening 27 is restricted by a pair of stop lugs 28 vides a higher position'for a button of latch element G so that it need not project below the bottom level of beam section 20 (-or minimizing such projection).

In the forward half of bridge section 21, at the top thereof, is a longitudinal channel 48 communicating with the opening 27 of forward bridgesection 2d and cooperating therewith in accommodating the toe coupling unlt'loading spring. Channel 48 has reinforced side wall members 49 (FIG. 7) offset laterally from central vertical web '41. Beam section 21 has a closed forward end defined by integral Wings 54 disposed on an upward and forward incline, extending the full width of top and bottom webs 45 and 46 (FIG. 6).

.At its rearward end, the heel bridge section includes an integral axle mo'unt51 of upwardly opening V-shape, with I projecting inwardly from the inner faces of side walls .22. Projecting downwardly from the center of the forward end of top web 25 is spring anchor lug 29. The beam of heel section 21 is slidably telescoped in the box beam of the toe section 20 of the bridge, and is joined thereto by the latch G.

The rear end of the box beam portion of toe section 20 is slanted downwardly and rearwardly at 30, and is provided with notches 31 in the upper corners of side walls 22 and with strengthening gussets 32.

In the forward portion of the toe bridge section is a downwardly projecting integral axle mount 33 of triangular box form with upwardly diverging forward andrear forward axle 13. The upper extremity of rear wheel mount 51 merges with a'rear platform section 53 including lateral wing portions projecting from the respective sides of the mount 51 and integral therewith. A reinforcing skirt 54 is integral with and projects downwardly from the margin of rear platform section 53. A rigid heel band 55, upwardly arched as seen looking rearwardly in FIG. 7, has respective side arms integrally joined at their lower ends to. the respective sides of rear platform 53 as viewed in plan (FIG. 2). These side arms are curved outwardly, downwardly and forwardly from the crest portion 56 of theheel band. The crest portion 56 is provided on its inner face with laterally opposed pairs of lips 57 for retainingengagement with the upper margin of the heel portion of a shoe upper. The crest portion 56 has an upward and forward curvature conforming approximately to the average vertical contour of the shoe heel upper.

Toe coupling unit D comprises a forward platform section 6% and an upwardly arched toe stirrup 61 integral with the forward portion thereof. Toe platform section 69 includes a flat horizontal plate 62 and an integral marginal reinforcing apron d3 having a horse-shoe configuration. Platform section is provided with integral slide channels 6 3- in opposed, parallel relation, the forward ends thereof being integrally joined to reinforcing apron 3 and the rear ends thereof being connected by integral bridging transverse webs 65 to the rear extremities of apron :53 (FIG. 5). At the center of platform plate 62, near its forward extremity, is a spring-anchor peg 66 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which projects downwardly through the rectangular aperture 27 of top web 25 of the forward bridge section. The slide channels receive the side marginal portions of the slide flanges 25 of forward bridge section 2b with a sliding fit which is sufiiciently loose to provide for the automatic spring-loaded engagement of the toe coupling unit D against a shoe toe, and yet is sufficiently snug to eliminate any objectionable lateral or vertical play between the toe coupling unit D and the toe platform section 59. This is particularly true in the vertical direction, where it is important that any ertical tilting between the toe coupling unit and the platform be avoided.

Sliding movement of toe coupling unit D relative to toe bridge section 2% is limited, both forwardly and rearwardly, by the confinement of stop lugs 23 of toe bridge section 29 between the forward web portion of reinforcing skirt 63 and a pair of stops 6? (FlGS. 5 and 6) of saw-tooth section longitudinally, integral with and projecting downwardly from the underface of forward platform plate 62, closely adjacent the inner surfaces of side wall members 22- of the box beam. The forward ends of stops 67 are vertical, for positive limiting action against stop lugs 28. Rearwardly of these forward vertical faces, the stops 6''!" have curved ramp faces which make it possible, during assembly, to force the lugs 23 beneath the stops 6?, passage being provided by upward yielding of the plate 62 and downward flexing of stop lugs 28.

A spring-loaded connection between the toe coupling unit D and the toe bridge section 29 is provided for by a coil spring 63 having its forward and rear ends provided with eyes looped around the anchor peg 6d and the anchor lug 29 respectively, thereby drawing the toe coupling unit D rearwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, except when pushed forwardly by a skaters toe inserted into the stirrup section Latch mechanism F comprises a latch plunger 70 including a cylindrical cup shaped body 71 axially slidable in a cylindrical cavity 72 within boss 42 of too bridge section 21, having a reduced locking bolt portion '73 projectins axially downwardly from body cup 71 and normally coupled in one of the locking apertures 37, 33 of toe bridge unit 21, and having a push-button head '74 which may optionally be connected to bolt portion '73 by a further reduced stem '75.

Seated within body cup ill, projecting upwardly through the open end thereof, and engaged under compression between the bottom of cup 71 and the head 43 of boss 42 is a coil spring 7a, the upper end of which is centered by receiving therein the pilot id of beam section 23. The axial height of bolt portion 73 of the latch plunger is roughly equivalent to the thickness of arched web 24, so that it is only necessary to elevate the plunger '76 the distance corresponding to that thicln ess in order to release the bolt portion 73 from an aperture 37 or 35 in which it is coupled. Furthermore, the annular groove 77 defined between button 7d and the lower end of bolt portion 7 3 has an axial depth somewhat greater than the thickness of web 24, so that the projecting portions of web 24 between the apcrtures 37, 33, defining the slot as, can pass smoothly between the head '74 and bolt *53 when the 6 plunger 70 has been thus raised. The proper position for locating this annular groove '7? in registration with the web projections, is determined by engagement of the upper end of the plunger cup 71 against the under surface of web 25.

In operation, the skate of my invention will remain firmly attached to a wearers foot P, the toe of the foot being firmly held in the toe stirrup 61, and the heel H being firmly held by the heel band 55. it is to be noted that the crest portion 56 of the heel band is slanted upwardly and forwardly to overhang the corresponding inclined portion of the heel H, thus holding the heel captive and resisting any upward pull tending to release the heel from the heel coupling unit E. For a small shoe having an unusually low heel, the upper edge of the heel, at its rear extremity, will be engaged by the lips 57 to provide added retention.

In the modified form, FIGS. 946, the features of construction of the skate are the same as in the skate described above, with the exceptions hereinafter described, and the same reference numerals are used to designate similar features.

Instead of the I-beam section C, a solid rectangular beam body llla is utilized, as shown in FIG. 12, and bottom wall 23a of box beam section C is fiat. Axles 13a are of plastic material, molded integrally with mounts 33a and 51a which are integral with the respective beam sections. Extensions Ella of the box-beam side walls 22 are designed to project over rear axles 13a when the bridge is closed to minimum length. Instead of separate hub caps 14, the ends of axles 13a are expanded by hotpressing to provide integral heads Ma.

The latch slot 36a is provided with spaced rectangular notches 38a which are adapted to receive respective dogs 58 which are formed at respective sides of a push stem a on the lower end of a U-shaped latch plunger "lilo, and project downwardly from shoulders 71a at said lower end. Shoulders 71a seat against bottom wall 23a to determine the locking position of the plunger. Plunger 7% is vertically slidable in laterally spaced grooves 72a and a connecting slot in solid beam body lla.

Heel platform 53 is integrally connected to the rear end of solid beam body dila by a short pillar ill, by means of which it is spaced above the beam body ltia so as to clear the top web 2.5 of box-beam 2ft.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable-length skate, in combination: respective forward and rear beam sections, both of molded plastic material, one being a tubular box beam of generally rectangular cross-section and the other including a beam body slidably telescoped within said box beam and having upper and lower longitudinal side margins fitted in the longitudinally extending internal corners of said box beam with free-sliding clearance; locomotion supports carrying the forward and rear ends of said beam sections respectively; said box beam including a bottom web pro vided with a longitudinally extending latch slot having pairs of laterally opposed keeper notches and intervening pairs of keeper teeth laterally spaced, with narrowed gaps between their opposed extremities, and a latch comprising a plunger slidable vertically in said beam body and a bolt having opposite side portions thereof engageable in a selected pair of said notches to latch said beam sections to one another in a selected length adjustment, said plunger having a shouldered lower end from which said bolt projects downwardly, said shouldered lower end being normally seated upon said bottom web so as to position said bolt in said slot; said latch being yieldable upwardly in response to finger tip pressure against its lower end, to release said bolt from said notches so as to permit adjustment of the skate for length.

2. A skate as defined in claim 1, including means acting between said beam body and said latch to yieldin-zly bias said latch downwardly to project said bolt into said slot.

3. An adjustable-len th skate of molded plastic mawterial comprising: respective forward and reeirbearn'sctions one of which is of rectangular box beam section and the other being a solid beam body slidably telescoped in said box beam section; said solid beam body having, intermediate its ends, a vertical plunger-guide cavity, open at its lower end; a latch plunger slidaole in said cavity, having a short bolt portion of reduced width projecting downwardly from its lower end, and a push stem, turther reduced in width, projecting downwardly fronisaid bolt portion; said box beanr-section including a bottom wall provided with a row of spaced latch apertures and intervening narrowed gaps joining said apertures in a medial longitudinal slot along which said stem is slidable when registered therewith by raising said plunger and the top of said cavity and biasing said plunger downwardly for engagement of said bolt portion in one of said apertures to lock said beam sections against relative longitudinal sliding movementl i l 4; A skate as defined in claim 3, wherein said plunger has a lower end shoulder from which 'said bolt portion 7 projects, said shoulder normally abutting said bottom wall to position said bolt in the plane of said bottom wall.

5. A skate as defined in claim 4, wherein said bottom -wall is transversely'arched upwardly to'pro'vide a longitudinal channel in which said stem is largely contained. 6. A skate as defined. in claim 3, wherein said solid beam body is of I-beam section including a vertical medial longitudinal web having an integral vertical boss in which said cavity is formed.

in an adjustable-length skate of molded plastic material: a bridge comprising respective iorward and rear beam sections having remoteends provided with respective locomotionsupports and with shoe-coupling jaws; "one of said beam sections having a plunger-guide cavity extending substantial ly'normal to the longitudinal axis of said bridge and having an open end, and the other beam section having a wall adjacent said open end, said wall having a row of'spaced latch apertures and intervening narrowed gaps joining said apertures to collectively define a slot communicating with said open end and extending parallel'to said longitudinal axis; a latch plunger axially slidable in said' cavity, having an outer end provided with an onset shoulder normally abutting said wall to dispose said plunger in a locking position, having a reduced bolt portion projecting from said shoulder and receivable in a selected one of said apertures when said plunger is in said locking position, andhaving a stem projecting axially beyond said bolt portion, said stem having a further reduced width such as to pass freely through said gaps from one aperture to another when disposed in said slot; and means in said cavity yieldingly loading the inner end of said plunger to'norrnally position 'said'bolt portion in one of said apertures, with said .stem projecting externally of said slot, said bolt portion having a short length not substantially longer than the thickness of said walls, whereby pressure against the end of said stem to eifect a short inward movement otsaid plunger; will release said bolt portion from said slot and dispose said stem in said slot so as topermit said beam sections to be slidably adjusted to vary the length of said bridge. 3. A skate as defined in claim 7, wherein said plunger is in the form of'a cylindrical cup, wherein said loading means is a coil spring largely contained in said cup, and wherein said first named beam has a web closing the closing the inner end of said cavity and'providing 'an abutment for the projecting end of said spring.

9.,A skate as defined in claim 7, wherein said stem has on its outer end an integral head of a sizesuch as to pass through one of said apertures for assembly and separation of said beam sections. i Ml. In an adjustable-length skate, in combination: a bridge comprising respective torward and rear beam ,sections, one being tubular and of non-circular section and the other being slidably and non-rotatably fitted within said tubular section and having a plunger-guide cavity extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis oiisaid bridge and having an open end, said tubularbeam section having a wall adjacent said open'end, side wall having a row of spaced latch apertures and interx ening narrowed gaps joining said aperaures to'collectively define a slot communicatingwith said open end and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis; a latch plunger axially slidable in said cavity, having an outer end provided'w-ith'an offset shoulder normally abutting said wall to dispose said plunger in a locking position, having a reduced bolt portion projecting from said shoulder and receivable in a selected one Otf said apertures when said plunger is in said' locking position, and having a stem projecting axiallybeyondsaid bolt portion, said stem having a further reduced width such as to pass freely through said gaps from one aperture to another when disposed in said slot; and means'in said cavity yieldingly loading the inner end of said plunger to normally position said bolt portion in one of said apertures, with said stem projecting externally of said slot, said bolt portion being releasable from said slot inresponse to finger pressure against said stem, disposing said stem in said slot so as to permit said beam sections to be slidably adjusted to vary the length of said bridge. j

1 An adjustable-length roller skate of molded plastic material comprising: respective forward and rear beam sections coupled to one another for relative longitudinal sliding movement; integral axle'mounts on the remote ends of said beam sections, said'mounts each being of hollow V-section comprising respective forward and rearward 'walls converging downwardly and joined at their .lower extremities by a semi-cylindrical integral web, and vertical side walls integrally bridging the respective side extremities ofsaid forward and rearward walls, said side walls having respective axle apertures tangent to the inner surface of said web; a metal axle extending through said :apertures,'snugly' fitted therein; and'in'compressive engagement with said inner web surface whereby to secure said axle against rotation; wheels journalled on the ends of said axles; toe and heel platform members, one of said platform members being constituted by integral shelf elements projecting laterally from the upper margin of the axle mount of one out said beam sections, and the other "platform member being a separ'a'tepart having integral opposed parallel longitudinal slide channels. depending cErom its lower face; the other beam section having along its upper side margins, respective lateral slide flanges received in said slide channels and coupling said other platform member to said other beam section for longitudinal sliding movement thereon."

- 12. An adjustable-length skate of molded plastic material comprising: respective forward and rear beam sections having'respective axle mounts at their remote ends and having their other ends slidably'coupled to one another, one or said beam sections being of b'o' x beam section and the other embodying a solid beam body telescoped in said box-beam and provided with a medial longitudinal upwardly opening channel in its coupled end; said box-beam section including a horizontal top end anchored to said anchor log and anchor .pin respectively, and spring-loading said platform and. jaw for yielding coupling engagement with an extremity of a shoe. i

1 3. An adjustable skate as defined in claim 12, including a second platform section integral with the remote end of the other beam section and provided with a shoe coupling jaw in opposed relation to said first mentioned jaw, for coupling engagement with the other end of a shoe.

14. A skate as defined in claim including a spring latch for coupling said beam sections to one another in selected positions of shoe-sizing adjustment, said latch being releasable in response to finger tip pressure.

15. In a skate, in combination: an adjustable-length bridge comprising a box beam section and a solid beam section telescoped therein, said beam sections having locomotion supports at their respective ends; said solid beam section having an integral platform section; a separate platform section slidably seated on the upper wall of said box beam section, said platform sections having respective shoe-coupling jaws, said separate platform section and box beam section having longitudinal interengaged slide means coupling said separate platform section to said box beam section for longitudinal sliding movement thereon; said upper wall having, in its end remote from said integral platform section, a longitudinal slot, open at the adjacent end thereof; a coil spring disposed in said slot, its ends anchored to said separate plat form section and box beam section respectively, and acting in tension to spring-load said separate platform section toward said integral platform section; opposed integral stop lugs on said box beam section at the outer end thereof, projecting into said slot; and stops on the underside of said separate platform section, engageable with said stop lugs to limit outward movement of said separate platform section.

16. A skate as defined in claim 15, wherein said stops are of saw-tooth form longitudinally, with squared outer ends for engagement with said stop lugs and ramps tapering to their inner ends, for riding over said stop lugs with a deflecting action during assembly of said separate platform section to said box beam section, said stop lugs being disposed in the plane of said upper wall.

17. in an adjustable-length skate, in combination: respective forward and rear beam sections, both or molded plastic material, one being a tubular box beam of generally rectangular cross-section and the other including a beam body slidably telescoped within said box beam and having upper and lower longitudinal side margins fitted in the longitudinally extending internal corners of said box beam with free-sliding clearance; locomotion supports carrying the forward and rear ends of said beam sections respectively; a pair of integral slide flanges projecting laterally from the top of said box beam in a common horizontal plane; an integral molded plastic foot platform-clamp jaw unit mounted upon said box beam and having on its underside integral laterally-spaced L-section slideways coupled to said slide flanges for longitudinal sliding movements on said box beam, said beam body having an integral opposed foot clamp; a tension spring loading said platform-clamp jaw unit in footengaging direction, said spring having its one end anchored to said foot platform-clamp jaw unit and its other end anchored to said box beam; and latch means for securing said beam sections to one another in selected relative positions of foot-sizing adjustment.

1%. In an adjustable-length skate, in combination: respective forward and rear beam sections, both of molded plastic material, one being a tubular box beam of generally rectangular cross-section and the other including a beam body slidably telescoped within said box beam and having upper and lower longitudinal side margins fitted in the longitudinally extending internal corners of said box beam with free-sliding clearance; locomotion supports carrying the forward and rear ends of said beam sections respectively; a pair or" integral slide flanges projecting laterally from the top of said box beam in a common horizontal plane; an integral molded plastic foot platformclamp jaw unit mounted upon said box beam and having on its underside integral laterally-spaced L-section slideways coupled to said slide flanges for longitudinal sliding movements on said box beam, said beam body having an integral opposed foot clamp; a tension spring loading said platform-clamp jaw unit in foot-engaging direction, said spring having its one end anchored to said foot platformclamp jaw unit and its other end anchored to said box beam; said beam body having in its upper side a longitudinally extending channel in which said spring is received; and means for securing said beam sections to one another in selected relative positions of foot-sizing adjustment.

19. A skate as defined in claim 18, wherein the means anchoring said ends of the spring consists of an integral anchor element projecting downwardly from the underside or" said platform-foot clamp unit and receivable in said channel space, and an integral lug on said box beam.

$19. A skate as defined in claim 1%, wherein said platfor clamp jaw unit and said channel are positioned at the toe end of the skate, wherein the forward end of said channel is open and said downwardly projecting anchor element is movable forwardly out of said channel.

21. A skate as defined in claim 2%, wherein the forward portion of said top web of the box beam is cut away to provide a space in which said downwardly projecting anchor element and a portion of said spring are receivable, and wherein sad lug is attached to said top web of the box beam at the rear end of said cut-away space.

22. In an adjustable-length skate, in combination: respective forward and rear beam sections, both of molded plastic material, one being a tubular box beam of generally rectangular cross-section and the other including a beam body slidably telescoped within said box beam and having upper and lower longitudinal side margins fitted in the longitudinally extending internal corners of said b x beam with free-sliding clearance; locomotion supports carrying the forward and rear ends of said beam sections respectively; a pair of integral slide flanges projecting laterally from the top of said box beam in a common horizontal plane; an integral molded plastic foot platform-clamp jaw unit mounted upon said box beam and having on its underside integral laterally-spaced L-section slideways coupled to said slide flanges for longitudinal sliding movements on said box beam, said beam body having an integral opposed foot clamp; a tension spring loading said platform-clamp jaw unit in footengaging direction, said spring having its one end an chored to the underside of said foot platform-clamp jaw unit and its other end anchored to the top web of said 'oox beam, said top web and beam body having respective registering longitudinal slot and channel spaces cooperatively receiving said tension spring; and latch means for securing said beam sections to one another in selected relative positions of toot-sizing adjustment.

23. An adjustable-length skate of plastic material comprising: respective torward and rear beam sections one of which is of rectangular box-beam section and the other embodying a beam body of solid rectangular section slidably telescoped in said box-beam section; said beam sections having, at forward and rear ends of the skate, respective integral axle trunnions projecting laterally therefrom; roller wheels journalled on said trunnions; one of said beam sections having laterally projecting integral longitudinal flanges at the upper extremities of its respective sides; respective shoe-clamping units, one of which is a separate molded plastic part including a platform slid-ably resting on said flanges, a pair of laterally opposed slide shoes of L-bar form integral with the under side of said platform, projecting downwardly and in slidably embracing engagement with the sides and under faces of said flanges to slidably couple said clamping unit to said one beam section; the other of said clamping units being integral with the other beam section; and

means spring-loading said one clamping unit toward the 7 the other embodying a solid beam body slidably telescoped in said box-beam section; said beam sections having, at forward and rear ends of the skate, respective integral axle trunnions projecting laterally therefrom; roller wheels of molded plastic material, of solid thick disc structure, journalled on the respective axle trunnions; said. box-beam section having a horizontal top web provided with'a median longitudinal slot opening into one end thereof; said solid beam body having, at one end thereof, a median, longitudinally extending neck of elongated horizorital section slidably fitted in said slot; a fixed platform integral with the upper end of said neck and projecting laterally therefrom; a shoe gripping jaw integral With and projecting upwardly from the respective sides of said platform; and a separate shoe gripping unit at the other end of said skate, embodying means connecting the same to said box beam section for longitudinally sliding movement; and means spring-loading said separate gripping unit toward the other gripping unit for yielding gripping of ashoe between said units.

25. An adjustable-length skate of plastic material insides of which are defined by respective laterally opposed keeper notches and intervening laterally opposed keeper teeth; said solid beam body having, intermediate its ends, a 'slideway disposed in a transverse vertical plane; a latch slidable vertically in said slideway and having, at its lower end, laterally opposite dogs receivable in a selected pair of keeper notches; and spring means acting between said solid beam body and said latch, exerting yielding downward pressure against the latch to normally maintain it in locking engagement between adjacent pairs of keeper teeth, while yielding to upward manual pressure against said latch such as ;to release it from such engagement and thereby to permit extension or contraction of said beam sections relative to one another. 7

26. In an adjustable-length skate, in combination: respective forward and rear platform sections, both of molded plastic material; a bridge beam secured to one of said sections and slidably coupled to the other section,

said bridge beam including a web portion provided with a longitudinally extending latch slot having pairs of laterally opposed. keeper notches and intervening pairs of keeper teeth laterally spaced, with narrowed gaps between their opposed extremities; and a latch element including a bolt portion shiftable vertically between a normal position' engaged in a selected pair of said keeper notches and a position released from'said notches so as to permit movement of said bridge beam relative to said latch bolt, said latch element being carried by said other platform section and spring-loaded toward said normal position so as to lock said bridge beam and said other platform section in a selected position of relative adjustment, said latch element further including a push-button portion for fingertip engagement in opposition to said spring-loading to move said bolt portion to its said re leased position. 7 Y

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 325,161 8/85 Cornelius 28011.28X 526,655 9/94 Johnson a 2807,13X 657,790 9/00 Ross 280-1126 967,742 8/10 Eckart 280-1126 1,618,069 2/27 Dore 280-1126 1,854,188 4/32 Gregory 280-1131 X 1,857,360 5/32 Coldwell 280-1126 1,934,535 11/33 Hast 280-1126 2,067,712 1/37 Knapp 280-1126 V 2,103,737 12/37 Tappe 2 -1131 7 2,531,357 11/50 Foulds 280-1127 2,597,588 5/52 Manoil 280-11.19X 2,841,405 a 7/58 Jones et al. 280-11.26 3,007,706 11/61 Pullen 280-1126 3,081,106 a 3/ 63 Budd 280-1126 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

I A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner. 

1. IN AN ADJUSTABLE-LENGTH SKATE, IN COMBINATION: RESPECTIVE FORWARD AND REAR BEAM SECTIONS, BOTH OF MOLDED PLASTIC MATERIAL, ONE BEING A TUBULAR BOX BEAM OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION AND THE OTHER INCLUDING A BEAM BODY SLIDABLY TELESCOPED WITHIN SAID BOX BEAM AND HAVING UPPER AND LOWER LONGITUDINAL SIDE MARGINS FITTED IN THE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING INTERNAL CORNERS OF SAID BOX BEAM WITH FREE-SLIDING CLEARANCE; LOCOMOTION SUPPORTS CARRYING THE FORWARD AND REAR ENDS OF SAID BEAM SECTIONS RESPECTIVELY; SAID BOX BEAM INCLUDING A BOTTOM WEB PROVIDED WITH A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING LATCH SLOT HAVING PAIRS OF LATERALLY OPPOSED KEEPER NOTCHES AND INTERVENING PAIRS OF KEEPER TEETH LATERALLY SPACED, WITH NARROWED GAPS BETWEEN THEIR OPPOSED EXTREMITIES, AND A LATCH COMPRISING A PLUNGER SLIDABLE VERTICALLY IN SAID BEAM BODY AND A BOLT HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS THEREOF ENGAGEABLE IN A SELECTED PAIR OF SAID NOTCHES TO LATCH SAID BEAM SECTIONS TO ONE ANOTHER IN A SELECTED LENGTH ADJUSTMENT, SAID PLUNGER HAVING A SHOULDER LOWER END FROM WHICH SAID BOLT PROJECTS DOWNWARDLY, SAID SHOULDERED LOWER END BEING NORMALLY SEATED UPON SAID BOTTOM WEB SO AS TO POSITION SAID BOLT IN SAID SLOT; SAID LATCH BEING YIELDABLE UPWARDLY IN RESPONSE TO FINGERTIP PRESSURE AGAINST ITS LOWERE END, TO RELEASE SAID BOLT FROM SAID NOTCHES SO AS TO PERMIT ADJUSTMENT OF THE SKATE FOR LENGTH. 